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The Role of Visual Effects in Movies

Visual effects, abbreviated Visual FX or VFX, is an advanced technology that is used in movies to give scenes a more realistic look and increase their credibility. Visual effects have been used since the early 1900s. They help to bring to life the imagination of filmmakers.

What are visual effects?

Visual effects refer to the imagery created or manipulated outside a live-action shot to bring out environments that are realistic but impossible to create or capture on film. In short, VFX refers to the effects that are added using a computer after shooting scenes.

The use of VFX is at an all-time high on a global scale, with Hollywood movies making use of the most advanced visual effects techniques available. Some of the visual effects used include:

Matte painting

Modeling

Animation

Compositing

Are visual effects and special effects the same thing?

Unlike visual effects, special effects (abbreviated as SFX) are added on set during a live-action shot. The fact that they are all realized on set means that they happen in reality, in a tangible and physical way that cannot occur naturally. For instance, when an actor throws a match into a can of gasoline on set, and it explodes, that is a special effect.

Why are visual effects important in movies?

Visual effects come in handy when there is a need to:

Project speed changes

Expand the existing set (for instance, adding a live audience)

Obscure some objects

Change or create backgrounds

Build sets that cannot be built in real life

Visual effects are significant in movies as they help to:

Save on time

Imagine the amount of time it would take to build a castle for a film! Visual effects help to save on such time, ensuring that the shoot starts on schedule.

Save on cost

Without visual effects, movie production would be so expensive and perhaps, impossible. Filmmakers would have to crash real planes and cars which is not only dangerous but also costly. Though the best visual effects are not very cheap, they are relatively cheaper than having to act out the real thing; thus they help filmmakers make more profit.

Bring imagination to life

VFX help to successfully convert even the wildest of imaginations into a credible movie. Without visual effects, it would be impossible to produce movies that have mythical beings such as dragons or even dangerous stunts such as violent robbery.

Give an edge to a movie

Visual effects add an edge to a movie by allowing the addition of locations, sets, and stunts that would be impossible to have live on set.

It is safe to say that VFX is the life of a movie. Without effects, films would be boring and impossible to produce, and you would not be so motivated to stream them online. If you love streaming movies online, ensure that you take the necessary precautions to avoid information theft. You can use various tools such as VPN movies to stream anonymously or better yet, bypass geographical restrictions.